Different Expectations Of Brady Bill

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

August 22, 1993

ON THE surface, the Brady Bill looks innocent; all you have to do to buy a handgun is wait five days.

I suppose this is to prevent criminals from buying guns. The first-time buyer would probably wait those five days, not knowing any better. But me, a law-abiding gun owner, would most likely stand in line with a rapist, a drug dealer, a robber, etc., at the round-the-corner, back-of-the-building gun outlet, where guns would be available without that restriction, most likely at a much higher cost.

Now Mr. Politician, after hearing that millions of guns are being sold at these outlets, will be outraged and will pass a law requiring all guns to be registered and that anyone caught with an unregistered gun will be fined and, yes, spend some jail time. Of course the next step, if that doesn't work, is to pick up all guns at the government's convenience.

I think your readers get the message. Black marketeers thrive on regulations; they get rich. But the bottom line is, if there are no guns for the citizenry, dictatorship is just around the corner.